Airport Security Staff

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reason security staff at English airports are vetted by the Scottish Criminal Records Bureau; and for how long this has been the case.

Charlotte Atkins: holding answer 17 March 2005
	Security staff at UK airports are vetted by the Department for Transport at Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC) Level. All other staff who need to work in the Restricted Zone at airports are required to undergo a check of their criminal record. Such staff need to provide a Basic Disclosure certificate to the pass issuing authority (Aerodrome Manager). At present the only source of such a certificate is Disclosure Scotland (part of the Scottish Criminal Records Office). The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), which provides the Disclosure service in England and Wales, is considering its approach to the introduction .of Basis Disclosures as part of a strategy review.

Kerrier Home Zone Project

Candy Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation was conducted by Kerrier district council regarding the North Close Home Zone project; how much the consultation cost; and what conclusions were published.

Charlotte Atkins: Cornwall county council is the authority responsible for implementing the North Close Home Zone project. Kerrier district council has carried out consultation on behalf of, and in partnership with, the county council, and was directly responsible for the organisation of the initial consultation fun day. Other consultation has included door to door surveys, leaflets, exhibitions and statutory consultation.
	Overall, the county council report that approximately £29,350 has been spent on the consultation element of the project.
	Results of the consultation have not been published by the county council but have been discussed at meetings of the project working group, the minutes of which are circulated widely.

Speed Cameras

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the organisations which have been consulted by his Department on its proposal to outlaw equipment which detects the presence of speed cameras; and on which dates they were consulted.

David Jamieson: The Department for Transport consulted the following organisations on proposals to prohibit the use of speed assessment equipment detection devices in January 2001.
	ACPO
	Association of British Drivers
	Association of Independent Road Safety Officers
	ALBRSO
	Automobile Association Ltd.
	County Surveyors Society
	CPRE
	Driver Technologies Association
	Institute of Advanced Motorists
	Institute of Road Safety Officers
	Institution of Highways and Transportation
	LARSOA
	Local Government Association
	Magistrates' Association
	Motorcycle Industry Association
	Motorcycle Rider Training Association
	PACTS
	RAC
	Road Danger Reduction Forum
	Road Haulage Association
	Roadpeace
	RoSPA
	Road Haulage Association
	Freight Transport Law
	Confederation of Passenger Transport
	UK Performance Products Ltd.
	Beltronics
	Automotive Distribution Association
	Welsh Assembly
	Scottish Executive
	This proposal was deferred pending primary legislation which would give powers to prohibit a vehicle being fitted with or a person using a vehicle carrying these devices.
	The Road Safety Bill includes such an enabling power. The precise type of devices that would be prohibited would be identified in regulations made under section 41 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. A statutory consultation would be held on the secondary legislation proposals.

Accidents

Jon Trickett: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many accidents occurred at his departmental premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of his Department's staff and (b) members of the public.

Stephen Timms: The number of accidents reported on HM Treasury's premises in each of the last five years involving (a) members of HM Treasury staff and (b) contractors is given as follows. No accidents have been reported from members of the public:
	
		Number of accidents
		
			  Staff Contractors Near miss Total 
		
		
			 2000 13 1 0 14 
			 2001 11 14 1 26 
			 2002 41 10 0 51 
			 2003 39 38 2 79 
			 2004 13 25 0 38

Drug Deaths

Lynne Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many deaths the primary cause was found to be (a) heroin, (b) crack cocaine, (c) cocaine, (d) ecstasy, (e) cannabis, (f) alcohol, (g) solvents and (h) prescription drugs in each of the last five years.

Stephen Timms: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National statistician. I have asked him to reply.
	Letter from Len Cook to Lynne Jones, dated 18 March 2005
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths the primary cause was found to be (a) heroin, (b) crack cocaine, (c) cocaine, (d) ecstasy, (e) cannabis, (f) alcohol, (g) solvents and (h) prescription drugs in each of the last five years. (222621)
	The most recently available information is for deaths in 2003. Relevant figures are only readily available for deaths where the underlying cause was either related to drug poisoning or directly related to alcohol (alcohol abuse, dependence and poisoning, and diseases directly related to alcohol use). It is not possible to identify from death certificates which substance was the primary cause when more than one was involved. Figures related to the number of deaths on which substances (a) to (e) were mentioned are shown in the table below, together with figures on alcohol-related deaths. Figures are for the calendar years 1999 to 2003.
	Figures on deaths due to volatile solvent abuse are collected separately by Department of Health. Figures on deaths involving prescription drugs are not available as it is not possible to readily identify deaths where an adverse reaction to a particular drug taken in therapeutic dosage was involved. Adverse reactions to drugs are reported to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency using the yellow card scheme. Figures on deaths from overdoses involving these drugs are available, however some substances are available in prescription and over-the-counter compounds and these cannot be distinguished.
	It should be noted that the figures on drug-related poisoning are not directly comparable to the figures on alcohol for the following reasons.
	The figures on drugs do not include long-term effects of drug taking, whereas the figures on alcohol include cirrhosis of the liver.
	Overdose deaths which involved both drugs and alcohol are coded as due to drug poisoning, in accordance with international rules for coding cause of death.
	The figures on alcohol include only those where the underlying cause was alcohol-related. The figures on specific drugs include any mention of a substance on a death related to drug poisoning. This means a death could be included in more than one row of the table, for example if the deceased took both heroin and cocaine.
	
		Number of alcohol-related deaths1 and deaths from drug-related poisoning2 involving selected drugs,3 England and Wales, 1999 to 20034
		
			 Deaths from drug-related poisoning where the following substances were specifically mentioned 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 
		
		
			 (a) Heroin/morphine 754 926 889 790 591 
			 (b)+(c) Cocaine (including crack cocaine)(8) 88 80 96 139 113 
			 (d) Ecstasy 26 36 55 55 33 
			 (e) Cannabis 8 11 15 15 11 
			 (f) Alcohol-related deaths 5,505 5,614 5,970 6,033 6,580 
		
	
	(4) For the years 1999–2000 the cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9). The codes selected to define alcohol-related deaths are listed as follows:
	291—Alcoholic psychoses
	303—Alcohol dependence syndrome
	305.0—Non-dependent abuse of alcohol
	425.5—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	571—Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis
	E860—Accidental poisoning by alcohol
	For the years 2001–2003 the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) was used. To maintain comparability with earlier years the following codes were selected:
	F10—Mental and behavioural disorders due to use of alcohol
	142.6—Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
	K70—Alcoholic liver disease
	K73—Chronic hepatitis, not elsewhere classified
	K74—Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
	X45—Accidental poisoning by and exposure to alcohol
	The selection of codes to define alcohol-related deaths is described in:
	Baker A and Rooney C (2003). Recent trends in alcohol-related mortality, and the impact of ICD-10 on the monitoring of these deaths in England and Wales. Health Statistics Quarterly 17, pp 5–14.
	2 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 292, 304, 305.2–305.9, E850-E858, E950.0-E950.5, E962.0 and E980.0-E980.5 for 1999 to 2000, and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-Y14from 2001 onwards.
	3 Drugs mentioned on the death certificate of a death where the underlying cause was drug poisoning.
	4 Data are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	5 It is not possible to provide separate figures on deaths related to crack cocaine and cocaine from routine mortality data, as these substances are not generally separately identified on death certificates. ONS routinely publishes a combined figure for deaths mentioning cocaine on the death certificate.
	Source of data on deaths related to drug poisoning:
	Tables of deaths related to drug poisoning on the National Statistics website at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=l1695

Alcohol Confiscation

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the power conferred on local authorities by the Police and Criminal Justice Act 2001 to designate areas where alcohol may be confiscated from individuals have been used in each year since 2001, broken down by local authority area.

Charles Clarke: Since September 2001 over 135 local authority areas have notified the Home Office that they have made designation orders under section 13 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 to restrict antisocial public drinking in areas that have experienced alcohol-related disorder or nuisance. The following list sets out a breakdown of designation orders made in every year. A number of those listed will appear more than once as they have introduced more than one designation order since 2001.
	Local authorities that introduced designation orders:
	September 2001-December 2001
	Herefordshire Council
	Northampton Borough Council
	Brighton and Hove City Council
	2002
	Bedford Borough Council
	Bromley (London Borough of)
	Chelmsford Borough Council
	Cherwell District Council
	Cornwall (North) District Council
	Daventry District Council
	Denbighshire County Council
	Devon (North) District Council
	Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
	Eastbourne Borough Council
	Eastleigh Borough Council
	East Riding (of Yorkshire Council)
	Enfield Council
	Gloucester City Council
	Great Yarmouth
	Haringey Council
	Harrogate Borough Council
	Herefordshire Council
	Hyndburn Borough Council
	Kingston Upon Hull City Council
	Leicester City Council
	Lincolnshire (North East) Council
	Leicestershire (North West) District Council
	Macclesfield (Borough of)
	Manchester City Council
	Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council
	Milton Keynes Council
	Newcastle City Council
	Oadby and Wigston (Borough of)
	Oldham (Metropolitan Borough of)
	Oxford City Council
	Reading Borough Council
	Redditch Borough Council
	Ribble Valley Council
	Shepway District Council
	Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
	Somerset (South) District Council
	Southend on Sea Borough Council
	Staffordshire (South) Council
	Stafford Borough Council
	Stratford Upon Avon District Council
	Stroud District Council
	Sutton (London Borough of)
	Swindon Borough Council
	Taunton Deane Borough Council
	Thanet District Council
	Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
	Warrington Borough Council
	Watford Council
	Westminster City Council
	Wigan Borough Council
	Weymouth and Portland Borough Council
	Windsor and Maidenhead Council
	Wolverhampton Council
	Wrexham County Borough Council
	Wycombe District Council
	2003
	Birmingham City Council
	Brentwood Borough Council
	Breckland Council
	Brighton and Hove City Council
	Bristol City Council
	Broadland District Council
	Burnley Borough Council
	Bury (Metropolitan Borough Council)
	Cherwell District Council
	Craven District Council
	Crewe and Nantwich Council
	Dacorum Borough Council
	Derby City Council
	Devon (Mid) District Council
	Devon (North) District Council
	East Riding (of Yorkshire Council)
	East Staffordshire Borough Council
	Fylde Borough Council
	Harlow Council
	Havant Borough Council
	Kensington and Chelsea (Royal Borough of)
	Kingston Upon Thames (Royal Borough of)
	Lambeth (London Borough of)
	Lewisham (London Borough of)
	Medway Council
	Mendip District Council
	Middlesbrough Borough Council
	Norfolk (North) District Council
	Norwich City Council
	Oldham (Metropolitan Borough of)
	Oxford City Council
	Preston City Council
	Ribble Valley Council
	Salisbury District Council
	Scarborough Borough Council
	Sefton Council
	Somerset (North) Council
	South Bedfordshire District Council
	Stafford Borough Council
	Stoke on Trent Council (City of)
	Stratford Upon Avon District Council
	Surrey Heath Borough Council
	Swansea Council
	Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
	Torbay Council
	Tyneside (North) Council
	Worthing Borough Council
	Wyre Forest District Council
	2004
	Amber Valley Borough Council
	Barking and Dagenham Borough Council
	Barnet (London Borough of)
	Bath and North East Somerset Council
	Berwick-upon-tweed Borough Council
	Bexley (London Borough of)
	Birmingham City Council
	Bristol City Council
	Bromley (London Borough of)
	Bromsgrove Council
	Camden (London Borough of)
	Charnwood (Borough of)
	Cherwell District Council
	Chesterfield Borough Council
	Chester City Council
	Coventry City Council
	Derby City Council
	Dorset (East) District Council
	Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
	East Riding (Yorkshire Council)
	Gateshead Council
	Gravesham Borough Council
	Hackney (London Borough of)
	Hammersmith and Fulham (London Borough of)
	Harlow Council
	Havering (London Borough of)
	St. Helens Council
	Hertfordshire (East) District Council
	Kingston Upon Hull City Council
	Kingston Upon Thames (Royal Borough of)
	Lewisham (London Borough of)
	Lincolnshire (North) Council
	Milton Keynes Council
	Peterborough City Council
	Poole (Council Borough of)
	Ribble Valley Council
	Rossendale (Borough Council)
	Ryedale District Council
	Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
	Staffordshire (East) Borough Council
	Staffordshire (South) Council
	Stafford Borough Council
	Stevenage Borough Council
	Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
	Sunderland Council (City of)
	Teignbridge District Council
	Waltham Forest (London Borough of)
	Wansbeck District Council
	Wigan Borough Council
	Worcester (City of)
	Westminster City Council
	2005 to date
	St. Albans City and District Council
	Amber Valley Borough Council
	Anglesey (Isle of) County Council
	Cheltenham Borough Council
	Devon (Mid) District Council
	Dorset (East) District Council
	Ealing Borough Council
	Kerrier District Council
	Kingston Upon Hull City Council
	Newcastle City Council
	Wrexham County Borough Council

Prevention of Terrorism

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the legislative provisions to introduce control orders will contain sunset clauses.

Charles Clarke: The Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005 as now enacted, does not contain a sunset clause, but instead provides for annual renewal of its provisions subject to approval by both Houses.
	In addition, I have informed the House that the Bill to be introduced in the next Session, on counter terrorism offences, will provide an opportunity for Parliament, if it so decides, to amend the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005.

2 Princess of Wales Regiment

Parmjit Dhanda: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  under whose operational command 2 Princess of Wales Regiment will serve for the duration of their deployment outside their tactical area of responsibility;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the (a) purpose and (b) duration of the deployment of 2 Princess of Wales Regiment outside their tactical area of responsibility.

Adam Ingram: The 2nd Battalion, the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment (2PWRR) is currently part of the UK-led Multinational Division (South East) (MND(SE)). Elements of 2PWRR have recently relocated to Al Muthanna province within the MND(SE) area of operations. They deployed as part of a Battlegroup, based on the Queens Dragoon Guards, which is providing framework security and conducting security sector reform in that province. That Battlegroup will continue to carry out those tasks until they are replaced, either by another UK Battlegroup or by a coalition partner.
	All elements of 2PWRR remain under the operational command of the General Officer Commanding MND(SE), with the exception of one platoon which is currently located in Baghdad, where it provides force protection to senior British military personnel. This is a longstanding deployment which predates the arrival of 2PWRR in Iraq.

Civil Servants (Gibraltar)

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether local bids will be invited for contracts for work currently carried out by departmental staff in Gibraltar; and whether a bid from existing departmental employees in Gibraltar would be considered.

Adam Ingram: Two areas of work, currently being carried out by MOD staff in Gibraltar, are being examined for contractorisation.
	Any company, including those from Gibraltar, could tender if they meet published MOD commercial criteria. There is no current policy that precludes a competitive in-house option for tasks currently done in-house.

Corporate Responsibility

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps the Department is taking to ensure companies adopt policies to meet social and environmental obligations.

Nigel Griffiths: Companies are bound by legislation on a wide range of social and environmental issues including matters relating to employment terms and conditions, health and safety and environmental protection.
	At national level HMG supports a number of initiatives aimed at improving business social and environmental performance. Within DTI these include:
	Establishment and funding for CSR Academy to mainstream CSR skills into business practice
	Sponsorship of Business in the Community's Corporate Responsibility Index
	Sponsorship of Business in the Community's Annual Awards for Excellence
	Sponsorship of Small business consortium's Small business journey toolkit for SMEs

Gas Market

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  if she will make a statement on the recent rises in the forward gas market; and what assessment she has made of the impact the increase in the price for delivery in winter 2006 will have on the competitiveness of UK manufacturing;
	(2)  what action her Department is taking to mitigate the risk of job losses within the manufacturing sector as a result of rises in industrial gas prices; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The forward wholesale price for gas for the first quarter of 2006 averaged around 48p/therm in February 2005, and for the first two weeks of March it has been around 54p/therm. However, the average actual price paid for delivery in the winter tends to be lower than the forward price, and the same may happen in 2006. Nevertheless, 54p/therm is above the forward price in respect of previous winters, driven by changing market views about the tightening winter supply situation.
	The Department has commissioned an independent consultant to analyse the operation of the forward market and, if necessary, to propose recommendations for improving it to both Government and Industry.
	The impact on the competitiveness of manufacturing companies will depend on a variety of factors, including how much gas a particular company uses, the degree of their exposure to spot and/or forward prices, and the duration of the high prices. It will also be affected by the energy prices paid by their competitors. We are working with industry to identify ways it can mitigate the effects of high forward gas prices.
	This Government implemented the Manufacturing Strategy in 2002, the first from any government in over 30 years. In July 2004 we published a review of the Strategy setting out a framework for action to address many of the challenges currently facing manufacturers in the UK. It focuses on support for innovation and skills, and assisting industry to produce smarter, higher value-added products. This message was reinforced in The DTI Five-Year Programme, published in November 2004.

Nuclear Decommissioning

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress made by the European Commission on its investigation into the setting-up and financing of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, with particular reference to state aid matters.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 17 March 2005
	The UK has recently submitted its comments on the submissions that the Commission have received from third parties. We now expect the Commission to take some time to consider these and other views submitted to it. We stand ready to answer any further questions they might have.

Renewables

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate she has made of the number of terrawatt hours of electricity generated from renewable sources required to meet the Government's 2010 renewables target.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 17 March 2005
	The 2010 10 per cent. renewable energy target relates to electricity supply to consumers. The latest DTI energy projections indicate that the supply to consumers could be around 330TWh in 2010, this would indicate that to meet the target, renewables generation would need to be 33TWh.
	However it should be noted that at this stage, any estimate is necessarily very approximate.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with the Turkish-Cypriot administration on the number of private properties built in each of the last three years in Northern Cyprus which were purchased by foreign nationals who are neither Greek or Turkish Cypriot; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had on the policy of the Turkish-Cypriot administration in Northern Cyprus on maintaining in good condition the properties that Turkish settlers now live in but to which Greek Cypriots claim ownership; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and I met Mr. Talat on 1 July 2004; I also met Mr. Talat and other Turkish Cypriot leaders during my visit to the island in October 2004. On both occasions we discussed a number of Cyprus related issues. Officials from the British high commission also meet Turkish Cypriot leaders on a regular basis to discuss a full range of issues on the situation in Cyprus, including that of property purchase by foreigners. Through our travel advice and in response to inquiries, we advise potential purchasers of property in the north that there may be significant practical, financial and legal consequences, and we strongly encourage potential buyers to seek independent, qualified legal advice.
	The issue of the condition of properties likely to be affected by the resettlement and compensation provisions of the Annan plan was studied during the "needs assessment" phase of the UN process, with the close support and interest of the UK Government.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Turkish troops are stationed in Northern Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: We have no precise figures of our own. Current estimates range from 20–35,000.
	Turkey supported the UN Secretary-General's Comprehensive Settlement Plan for Cyprus, which provided for a staged reduction in troop numbers. If the island had reunited on the basis of the plan, Turkish troops would have been reduced by over 80 per cent. by the end of 2007, with a further 50 per cent. reduction within the following four years. Thereafter, the plan allowed for 650 troops to remain in the north of Cyprus, the same number of Turkish troops as set out in the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee. This agreement would be subject to regular reviews with a view to eventual withdrawal by mutual consent.

Cyprus

Tom Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish-Cypriot administration in Northern Cyprus on its policies to protect and develop the environment;
	(2)  what recent discussions he has had with the Turkish-Cypriot administration on its policy on Greek Cypriots who wish to return to live in Northern Cyprus being able to do so; and if he will make a statement.

Denis MacShane: Neither my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary nor myself have had recent discussions with the Turkish Cypriot administration on these matters. However, officials from the British high commission in Nicosia meet regularly with Turkish Cypriot representatives to discuss the full range of issues related to the situation in Cyprus. One feature of these discussions is the need to improve environmental protection including by use of EU funds in this area.

India

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indian Government concerning the recent violent attacks on members of the Sikh community of Chattisgarh.

Denis MacShane: We are aware of recent violent incidences between members of the Sikh and Hindu communities in Chattisgarh. We continue as a matter of course to raise our concerns with the Indian Government about religious intolerance in India, including attacks against Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians. We will continue to urge the Indian authorities to ensure the right to freedom of religion, enshrined in its constitution, is upheld and that those responsible for attacks against people because of their religion are brought to justice. We remind them that the UK Government condemns the persecution of individuals or groups because of their religion or beliefs. The UK Government believe that the democratic process in India is the best protection for a peaceful and secure country. We appreciate the remarks by Dr. Manmohan Singh in his first press conference as Prime Minister, when he said
	"We are the most tolerant civilisation and we cannot divide people on the basis of religion and race."

Nuclear Weapons

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the UK's undertaking to work towards the total elimination of British nuclear weapons.

Denis MacShane: The United Kingdom is fully committed to its disarmament obligations as a nuclear-weapon state recognised by the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), including all the undertakings agreed at the 2000 NPT review conference. We also support the agreements made at the 1995 NPT Review and Extension Conference that called on the nuclear-weapon states to pursue systematic and progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally, with the ultimate goal of eliminating those weapons. We are the only nuclear-weapon state that has reduced its nuclear capability to a single weapons system and we have reduced the total explosive power of our nuclear forces by over 70 per cent. since the end of the cold war.

Fire Service

Parmjit Gill: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many recorded attacks there were against (a) firefighters while on duty and (b) fire service equipment in (i) Leicester, (ii) Leicester South and (iii) the UK in each year since 1997.

Nick Raynsford: Since April 2004 fire and rescue authorities in England and Wales have been asked to report attacks on firefighters through the Fire or Incident of Special Interest (FOSI) system. Since that time 428 attacks on firefighters in England and Wales have been reported to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. There have been no attacks on firefighters reported by Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority.

Animal By-Product Regulation

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons the Animal By-Product Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 require slaughterhouse waste to be handled in an enclosed space.

Ben Bradshaw: The Animal By-Products Regulation requires that all intermediate plants have a covered space to receive animal by-products. We consider that in general this will also mean that all handling of by-products must be done in that covered space. The Regulation also requires the plant to be constructed in such a way that it is easy to clean and disinfect, and that floors must be laid down in such a way as to facilitate the draining of liquids. The plant must also have appropriate arrangements for protection against pests, such as insects, rodents and birds. In our view, the combination of these requirements is such that it would be necessary for the plant to have a roof, walls and a floor before we can approve it.
	Slaughterhouse waste may contain high-risk material such as Specified Risk Material (SRM). It will usually have a high liquid content, and contain loose fragments of material, thereby increasing the risk of leakage or spillage during handling and the risk of spread by vermin such as rodents or birds. Such waste must therefore be handled in an enclosed space to provide adequate safeguards to protect public and animal health.

Avian Flu

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the risk of avian influenza being transmitted from imported poultry feathers.

Ben Bradshaw: In January 2004 Defra carried out a full veterinary risk assessment of the risk of importing avian influenza from a variety of products, including feathers. The assessment is available on the Defra website http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/notifiable/disease/avianinfluenza asia.htm

Avian Flu

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what quantity of poultry feathers were imported into the UK from each East Asian country in each of the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: UK imports of feathers from Asia, 2000–04.
	
		
			  tonnes 
			 Country 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 China 827 887 1,276 827 1,867 
			 Taiwan 768 562 795 1,000 817 
			 Vietnam 340 246 54 9 52 
			 Hong Kong 82 19 2 237 21 
			 Singapore — — — 15 0 
			 Pakistan — — — — 13 
			 India 0 1 1 0 1 
			 Grand total 2,018 1,716 2,127 2,088 2,771 
		
	
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise
	Data prepared by Trade statistics, Food Chain Analysis 3, Defra
	2004 data is subject to amendments until 30 June 2005

Bovine Tuberculosis

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the current incidence of bovine tuberculosis in Stafford constituency; and if she will take action to reduce such incidence.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not available on a constituency basis. Bovine tuberculosis (TB) data is held by county or Animal Health Divisional Office area.
	The incidence of bovine TB in cattle in Staffordshire in 2004 was 6.56 per cent. 1 . The corresponding figure for Great Britain in 2004 was 3.45 per cent.
	Our aim to achieve a sustained reduction in disease incidence in cattle in high incidence areas, as well as slow down and prevent the geographic spread of bovine TB to areas currently free of the disease, forms part of our overall vision for the control of TB for the next 10 years. This is set out in the Government strategic framework for the sustainable control of bovine TB which was published on 1 March.
	1 Incidence is defined as confirmed new herd incidents as a percentage of tests on unrestricted herds. Data downloaded from the State Veterinary Service database on the 8–11 March 2005. This is provisional data, which is subject to change as outstanding TB test and culture results become available.

Climate Change

Tam Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2005, Official Report, column 1639, to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Tony Lloyd) on climate change, what the results were of her discussions with newly developing countries, with particular reference to those with substantial and growing energy needs; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, together with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry jointly hosted a Roundtable for the energy and environment Ministers from 20 countries, including the emerging economies, on 15–16 March.
	This was an innovative event which enabled us to explore common ground and begin to build a shared agenda to tackle issues of access to energy for development, energy security, and environmental protection.
	A summary of proceedings will be placed on the Defra and DTI websites shortly.

Emissions

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what reasons industries subject to the requirements of the National Allocation Plan are not exempt from the requirements of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

Elliot Morley: Directive 2003/87/EC established the EU Emission Trading Scheme. Article 9 requires each member state to develop a National Allocation Plan (NAP) stating the total quantity of allowances that it intends to allocate and how it intends to allocate them to installations. The NAP is therefore an integral part of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme. Installations which are covered by the Directive must be listed in the NAP and cannot be exempted from the scheme unless they are temporarily excluded from the scheme under Article 27 of the Directive.

Flood Defences (Sheerness)

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  who is responsible for making sure the flood gates in the sea wall are closed properly when there is an exceptional tide at Sheerness;
	(2)  who is responsible for the flood gates in the sea wall at Sheerness.

Elliot Morley: The Environment Agency and its predecessors constructed the flood defences along the Sheerness frontage on the Isle of Sheppey and retains overall responsibility for the floodgates and floodwalls. The Agency is responsible for issuing tidal flood warnings and ensuring the floodgates are closed as necessary.
	The Environment Agency operates the Queenborough tidal flood barrier, located across the Queenborough Creek, but there are local agreements in place with Swale borough council and private landowners to operate all other floodgates along the Sheerness frontage.
	Visual inspection to confirm the integrity of the sea defences, and the closure of all the floodgates on the Sheerness frontage, is also undertaken by the Agency during exceptional tides.
	Full details of which floodgates are operated by Swale borough council and local landowners are as follows:
	Swale borough council is responsible for closing floodgates at:
	The Broadway The Esplanade, Beech Street, Sheerness
	Cheyne Rock
	Queenborough Hard
	Crundalls Wharf, North Road, Queenborough
	Tesco, Bridge Road, Sheerness
	Shellness Road
	Elmley Ferry
	Warden Bay Promenade
	Warden Bay, Jetty Road
	Local landowners are responsible for closing floodgates at:
	Bretts, Chalk Wharf Canning Town
	Ship Breaking Ltd., Queenborough Rolling Mill
	Abbots Laboratories, Abbotts Slipway, Queenborough
	Medway Ports, Sheerness Docks, Sheerness, Kent
	Additionally, the Environment Agency undertakes routine maintenance inspections of all the floodgates every two months, and carries out the actions arising from these inspections that may include capital expenditure for example to replace worn out gates.

Fuel Poverty

Alan Hurst: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent on alleviating fuel poverty in the boroughs of (a) Southend-on-Sea and (b) Thurrock in each year from 1995 to 2004.

Elliot Morley: The Warm Front Scheme, the major programme to tackle the problem of fuel poverty in the private sector in England, was launched in June 2000. Between June 2000 and the end of December 2004 expenditure in Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock in each financial year was:
	
		
			   £ 
			  Southend-on-Sea Thurrock 
		
		
			 2000–01(6) 53,700 18,600 
			 2001–02 333,900 109,500 
			 2002–03 304,500 101,250 
			 2003–04 394,150 100,000 
			 2004–05(7) 372,250 173,500 
		
	
	(6) June to March.
	(7) April to December 2004
	The annual estimated expenditure under the previous Home Energy Efficiency Scheme from April 1995 to May 2000 for Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock was:
	
		
			   £ 
			  Southend-on-Sea Thurrock 
		
		
			 1995–96 377,350 98,350 
			 1996–97 311,850 70,100 
			 1997–98 231,900 215,850 
			 1998–99 203,750 298,700 
			 1999–2000(8) 84,500 392,650 
		
	
	(8) To May 2000.

Pet Animals

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans (a) to sign and (b) to ratify the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals.

Ben Bradshaw: We intend to further review the UK's position on the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals once the Animal Welfare Bill has become law.

Radioactive Waste

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans her Department has to review low level radioactive waste management policy.

Elliot Morley: I have agreed with ministerial colleagues within UK Government and the devolved administrations that a review of policy for the long-term management of the UK's low level radioactive waste (LLW) should be carried out.
	LLW is generated by a wide range of activities involving the use of radioactive substances. They include the operation of nuclear reactors, the operation of other nuclear processing facilities, the decommissioning and clean up of nuclear sites, non-nuclear industrial activities, the medical use of radioactive materials, and research and educational activities.
	While relatively low, the level of radioactivity in LLW can span a very wide range (about five orders of magnitude). Not least because of this, it has been managed in a number of ways in the past: using the national disposal facility at Drigg in Cumbria, using various forms of disposal on the nuclear site on which the waste was generated, using controlled burial to landfill and, for small quantities of very low-level waste, through disposal with other ordinary refuse.
	What has now changed is that with many nuclear sites and facilities moving into their decommissioning phase, and with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) being set up to deal with this, it has been increasingly recognised that there will be a very large volume of LLW to be dealt with. Potentially this could fill the Drigg disposal facility a number of times over.
	The kinds of issue that are going to have to be addressed in the review are should we use up existing capacity in the Drigg facility—which is a relatively expensive management option—on very low activity wastes (i.e. how do we best use the Drigg facility as a national asset?). Does it make sense to dig up very large quantities of very low activity waste and transport it around the country to bury at some other site? Is controlled burial to landfill off-site appropriate for nuclear waste, or should we be looking to a greater use of on-site burial under suitably controlled and regulated conditions? For whatever approach is identified what is the likely timing of the existing Drigg facility becoming full, and what need for action does this imply?
	The proposed policy review is intended to consider these kinds of issues. The aim is to identify a policy framework, which will update that set out in the 1995 White Paper "Review of Radioactive Waste Management Policy: Final Conclusions" (Cm2919) to cover the future management of LLW, notably by the NDA. The aim of such a policy statement is not to address the detail of the individual LLW management decisions that have to be made, but rather to define the high level framework—requirements and principles—within which such decisions must be made.
	The initial stages are being overseen by a Steering Group drawn from the Government's Radioactive Waste Policy Group (RWPG). RWPG is made up of UK Government, devolved administrations and regulatory body representatives and meets regularly, several times a year, to discuss radioactive waste management policy and regulatory issues. The Steering Group is organising two national stakeholder workshops during the course of 2005 to support consideration of the issues and possible solutions. This work will contribute to the preparation and issue of a Government consultation on the revised policy proposals to be issued around the turn of the year.
	The LLW long-term management policy review will be carried out in parallel with the work of the Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM), which is assessing options for the long-term management of the UK's higher activity wastes. In contrast to CoRWM's work the issue for LLW is not that of identifying the best long-term management option itself, but rather how best to apply those forms of long-term management that already exist.
	Clearly there may be some interdependencies between the LLW management policy review and the work of CoRWM. These will be kept under review and managed by RWPG Committee as the work proceeds.

Securing the Future

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what methods she plans to use to publicise the new UK sustainable development strategy, Securing the Future, with particular reference to schools, colleges and universities.

Elliot Morley: The Department has developed a forward-looking communications strategy to publicise the strategy to ensure it reaches key audiences. For some stakeholders, more tailored strategic guidance and advice, drawing on "Securing the future", will be produced and publicised. As reflected in the Strategy, schools, colleges and universities are already developing awareness of sustainable development issues in light of DfES' Sustainable Development Action Plan, and resources to help educators consider these issues will be examined in light of the new strategy.

Further Education (Bromley)

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  whether it is her policy fully to fund courses for adults at level 3 in further education in Bromley in 2005–06;
	(2)  whether it is her policy to increase fees for courses above level 2 for adults in further education in Bromley in 2005–06.

Kim Howells: It is our policy to ensure that those groups of people benefiting from fully funded further education provision will continue to do so. There will be no change in the fee concessions arrangements that help unemployed people, those on income based benefits, and retired people and working families on low incomes, to access further education. We will continue to make substantial levels of public funding available to all which covers the largest part of the cost of courses but we also expect adult learners, who can afford to do so, to make a contribution to the costs of their learning. Those people already qualified at level 2, or not in one of our priority groups, will on average pay a higher fee contribution in 2005–06 unless they qualify for fee concessions.

Further Education (Bromley)

Eric Forth: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average funding per student in (a) further education colleges and (b) sixth forms in schools in the London borough of Bromley is in 2004–05; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Department allocates funds for education and training in the post-16 learning and skills sector to the Learning and Skills Council. The Department does not collect or hold information at the level requested. Mark Haysom, the Learning and Skills Council's chief executive will write to the hon. Member with details of the average funding per student in (a) further education colleges and (b) sixth forms in schools in the London borough of Bromley for 2004–05. A copy of his letter will be placed in the House Library.

Cleaning Costs

George Osborne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the costs of cleaning the Department were in each year since 1997.

David Miliband: Figures on costs of cleaning the Department are not fully available for each year prior to 2002 for the Cabinet Office's central London estate.
	It is not possible to separately identify cleaning costs at the Centre for Management and Policy Studies College residential and non residential training sites, Emergency Planning College residential training site and Government News Network as cleaning services are either provided as part of a wider facilities management contract or paid for as part of rent paid for leased property.
	Cleaning costs for the remainder of the Department are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,043,561 
			 2003–04 1,237,898

Government Websites

Richard Allan: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what action he is taking to prevent UK Government websites from being compromised by (a) denial of service and (b) phishing.

David Miliband: The UK Government have a continuous programme of work that identifies vulnerabilities and prevents damage to the critical national infrastructure, public sector networks and other inter-dependent information systems.
	Government policy advises all departments on the appropriate measures required to prevent UK Government websites from being compromised.
	Phishing is a form of social engineering that has become very common over the past 18 months. Criminals use this technique to deceive people into disclosing their credit card numbers, bank account details or other valuable information.
	At present, we have not seen large-scale phishing attacks against UK Government websites. However, we continue to be concerned about these criminal activities, and are therefore working to raise public awareness of the threat. Government have recently launched the IT safe website (www.itsafe.gov.uk) aimed at providing plain English advice and warnings to the general public.
	The UK Government are also working with law enforcement and industry on Project Endurance to increase awareness and promote information and advice to online users to give them the confidence to use the internet safely and securely.

Benefit Fraud

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much it costs to run the Benefits Fraud hotline in each of the last three years; and how many calls it received in each year.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		National benefit fraud hotline-operational costs and calls received
		
			  Operational costs (£) Calls received 
		
		
			 2001–02 1,086,000 205,999 
			 2002–03 959,277 159,290 
			 2003–04 1,038,505 (9)21 3,471 
		
	
	(9) Includes 2,421 calls received by the Local Authority Fraud Hotline which commenced in September 2003.
	Notes:
	1. Operational costs include staffing, goods and service costs.
	2. The operational costs of administering the National Benefit Fraud Hotline include the costs of administering the report-a-cheat-online service. These costs cannot be separated.
	Source:
	National Benefit Fraud Hotline.

Council Tax Benefit

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans the Government have to increase council tax benefit take-up; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: Last year we launched a council tax benefit awareness campaign and we are continuing to support local authorities in raising awareness of council tax benefit in the run-up to, and during, this year's billing round, supported by new posters and flyers, and by press advertising.
	National advertising started on the 10 January, followed by two weeks of regional press advertising. Further regional press advertising will be released in early March, to coincide with the issue of the council tax bills.
	A copy of the council tax benefit flyer was issued with winter fuel payment notification letters, going to around 12 million pensioners encouraging them to "Cut your Council Tax—Find out if you should be paying less."
	Flyers are also available in doctors' surgeries, and have been issued to over 20,000 organisations dealing with older people. An electronic version of the flyer is also available for local authorities to download and include with their council tax bills; they can also include a coupon for those who want to claim council tax benefit to fill in and return to their local authority.
	We are checking whether those who have already claimed pension credit have claimed CTB (and HB) if appropriate, too, so that we can encourage those who have not claimed to apply—and similarly whether those on HB/CTB have applied for pension credit.

Council Tax Benefit

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners in Leeds West receive council tax benefit; and what the total amount of such benefit was in the last year for which figures are available.

Chris Pond: The information is not available.

Jobseeker's Allowance

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the levels of jobseeker's allowance were in (a) 2003–04 and (b) 2004–05; what plans he has to increase the levels of jobseeker's allowance in 2005–06; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Pond: The information is in the table.
	
		Jobseekers allowance weekly rates of allowances and premiums
		
			  2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Contribution based JSA—personal allowances 
			 under 18 32.90 33.50 33.85 
			 18 to 24 43.25 44.05 44.50 
			 25 or over 54.65 55.65 56.20 
			 
			 Income-based JSA—personal allowances 
			 under 18 32.90 33.50 33.85 
			 18 to 24 43.25 44.05 44.50 
			 25 or over 54.65 55.65 56.20 
			 lone parent
			 under 18-usual rate 32.90 33.50 33.85 
			 under 18-higher rate payable in specific circumstances 43.25 44.05 44.50 
			 18 or over 54.65 55.65 56.20 
			 Couple
			 both under 18 32.90 33.50 33.85 
			 both under 18, one disabled 43.25 44.05 44.50 
			 both under 18, with responsibility for a child 65.30 66.50 67.15 
			 one under 18, one 18–24 43.25 44.05 44.50 
			 one under 18, one 25+ 54.65 55.65 56.20 
			 both 18 or over 85.75 87.30 88.15 
			 dependent children 
			 from birth to September following 16th birthday 38.50 42.27 43.88 
			 from September following 16th birthday to day before 19th birthday 38.50 42.27 43.88 
			 
			 Premiums
			 family 15.75 15.95 16.10 
			 family (lone parent rate) 15.90 15.95 16.10 
			 Pensioner
			 single 47.45 49.80 53.25 
			 couple 70.05 73.65 78.90 
			 pensioner (enhanced)   
			 single 47.45 49.80 53.25 
			 couple 70.05 73.65 78.90 
			 pensioner (higher) 
			 single 47.45 49.80 53.25 
			 couple 70.05 73.65 78.90 
			 Disability
			 single 23.30 23.70 23.95 
			 couple 33.25 33.85 34.20 
			 enhanced disability premium single rate 11.40 11.60 11.70 
			 disabled child rate 16.60 17.08 17.71 
			 couple rate 16.45 16.75 16.90 
			 severe disability
			 single 42.95 44.15 45.50 
			 couple (lower rate) 42.95 44.15 45.50 
			 couple (higher rate) 85.90 88.30 91.00 
			 disabled child 41.30 42.49 43.89 
			 carer 25.10 25.55 25.80 
			 bereavement 22.80 23.95 25.85 
			 
			 Allowances for personal expenses for claimants in hospital: 
			 higher rate 19.35 19.35 20.50 
			 lower rate 15.50 15.90 16.40

Low-income Households (Weston-super-Mare)

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners he estimates are living below the poverty line within the Weston-super-Mare constituency.

Malcolm Wicks: Poverty is about more than low income; it is also about other important factors in people's lives: their health, housing and quality of their environment. The sixth annual "Opportunity for All" report (Cm 6239), published in September 2004, sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and presents information on the indicators used to measure progress against this strategy.
	Information on the number of pensioners on low incomes in individual local authorities is not available.
	5,151 pensioner households in Weston-Super-Mare were benefiting from the pension credit as at end of December 2004.

New Deal

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  which contracts for the delivery of the new deal self-employment programme will be terminated at the end of financial year 2004–05;
	(2)  if he will make a statement on the future of the new deal programme for self-employment.

Jane Kennedy: There is no separate new deal self-employment programme although participants on new deal can receive advice and guidance on self employment, and can undertake test trading through new deal and work based learning for adults.
	We are in the process of informing new deal contractors whether their contracts are being renewed or not and, therefore, this information is currently commercial in confidence.
	The paper 'Building on New Deal (BoND): local solutions meeting individual needs', published in June 2004, sets out our approach to the development of our welfare to work strategy. This is available in the Library. The BoND programme will deliver a single new deal which will be accessible to all eligible customers. Self-employment support will feature within the BoND menu.

Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many families with children in Tamworth have been in receipt of income support for more than one year.

Chris Pond: 1,000 families with dependant children up to the age of 19 have been in receipt of income support for more than one year in Tamworth.
	Notes:
	1. Sample taken in November 2004
	2. Figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and quoted in thousands.
	3. Figures are based on a 5 per cent. sample and therefore subject to a degree of sampling variation.
	Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5 per cent. samples, November 2004.

Businesses (Strangford)

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new business start-ups have been recorded by Invest NI in the Strangford constituency in each of the last five years.

Barry Gardiner: The following table provides information relating to the number of business start-ups offered assistance in the Strangford constituency during the four years 2000–01 to 2003–04 and the 11 month period from 1 April 2004 to end February 2005.
	
		Strangford parliamentary constituency
		
			  Offers to new business starts 
		
		
			 2000–01 10 
			 2001–02 45 
			 2002–03 121 
			 2003–04 174 
			 2004–05(10) 174 
			 Total 524 
		
	
	(10) Figures provided for the 11 month period up to end of February 2005
	The total of 524 includes offers to new starts provided through the Start a Business Programme, for which information at a parliamentary constituency area level is only available from September 2001.
	The total amount of assistance offered to these starts was £1.2 million, which contributes towards an overall estimated planned investment of £8.7 million within the constituency.

Inward Investment

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans Invest NI have to market Newtownards as a preferred location for future inward investment; and if he will make a statement.

Barry Gardiner: The focus of Invest NIs international sales and marketing effort is to aggressively promote all areas of Northern Ireland, including Newtownards, as an attractive and viable location for new inward investment opportunities, in what is a very competitive global marketplace. In recent years the shift in foreign direct investment flows towards service industries has increasingly witnessed new investment, mainly from the financial services and software sectors, wishing to locate within the larger labour pools available in Northern Ireland.
	Invest NI's local offices continue to work closely with key stakeholders to understand and ensure that detailed information on sub-regional sales propositions, including Newtownards, is available to potential investors.
	While Invest NI continues to encourage new foreign direct investment to Northern Ireland, it also remains committed to strengthening the international competitiveness of local companies. From 2002–04, Invest NI made 72 offers of assistance totalling £3.88 million to existing companies in the Ards borough council area against investments of £15.5 million. This support was offered through a wide range of programmes.

Inward Investment

David Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions have taken place between the local enterprise agency, Invest NI and Ards borough council regarding inward investment in the Newtownards area.

Barry Gardiner: Invest NI and its enterprise partners are working with Ards borough council to develop the local economy within the Newtownards region. Invest NI is committed to working closely with others engaged in economic development, and this includes regular attendance at Ards borough council's economic sub committee meetings, at which inward investment issues are discussed.
	With the continuing movement in global foreign development investment trends from manufacturing to predominantly tradable service-based sectors, potential investors place an increasing emphasis on locations within larger labour pools providing good infrastructure or close proximity to University Centres of Excellence.
	Invest NI cannot dictate where companies locate but the interaction and co-operation of local stakeholders are important in promoting opportunities for investors to consider areas such as Ards as a potential location. Invest NI has, in the past few years, taken 10 visitors to view locations in Newtownards as part of their visiting itineraries.

NHS (Private Operations)

Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of operations carried out privately on behalf of the NHS in Northern Ireland was in each of the past four years, broken down by health board.

John Spellar: The cost of healthcare purchased by Health and Social Service Boards from independent sector hospitals in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland across all programmes of care for 2003–04 was:
	
		Expenditure on private healthcare purchased from independent sector hospitals in Northern Ireland, Great Britain and Republic of Ireland
		
			 HSS board area Year ended March 2004 (£000) 
		
		
			 Northern 2,213 
			 Southern 0 
			 Eastern 120 
			 Western 0 
			 Total 2,333 
		
	
	Further information is not available centrally.

Doctors

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors have been employed by the NHS in (a) South Tyneside, (b) the north-east and (c) the UK in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The information requested is shown in the table.
	Information in respect of doctors in Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of the devolved administrators. While the institutions in Northern Ireland are dissolved, responsibility rests with Ministers in the Northern Ireland office.
	The 2004 medical work force census is due to be published on 22 March.
	
		Hospital, public health medicine and community health services (HCHS) Doctors(14) and general medical practitioners excluding retainers(15) for specified organisations, 1997–2003 Numbers (headcount)
		
			  1997 1998 
			   Of which:  Of which: 
			  All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) 
		
		
			 England 89,619 60,230 29,389 91,837 62,140 29,697 
			
			 Of which:   
			 North-east 5,033 3,548 1,485 5,048 3,542 1,506 
			
			 Of which:   
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 2,015 1,366 649 2,062 1,412 650 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 3,018 2,182 836 2,986 2,130 856 
			
			 Of which:   
			 4NJ39 South Tyneside PC6 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RE9 South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust 141 141 0 131 131 0 
			 RW9 South Of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health NHS Trust(16) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			   Numbers (headcount) 
			  1999 2000 
			   Of which:  Of which: 
			  All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) 
		
		
			 England 93,981 63,994 29,987 96,319 66,067 30,252 
			
			 Of which:   
			 North-east 5,269 3,749 1,520 5,489 3,953 1,536 
			 Of which:   
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 2,116 1,460 656 2,162 1,501 661 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 3,153 2,289 864 3,327 2,452 875 
			
			 Of which:   
			 4NJ39 South Tyneside PC6 89 0 89 84 0 84 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 RE9 South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust 157 157 0 176 176 0 
			 RW9 South Of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health NHS Trust(16) n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			  2001 2002 
			   Of which:  Of which: 
			  All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) 
		
		
			 England 99,169 68,484 30,685 103,350 72,268 31,182 
			
			 Of which:   
			 North-east 5,656 4,053 1,603 5,823 4,178 1,645 
			
			 Of which:   
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 2,228 1,532 696 2,252 1,551 701 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 3,428 2,521 907 3,571 2,627 944 
			
			 Of which:   
			 4NJ39 South Tyneside PC6 87 0 87 n/a n/a n/a 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT n/a n/a n/a 100 13 87 
			 RE9 South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust 242 242 0 218 218 0 
			 RW9 South Of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health NHS Trust(16) n/a n/a n/a 33 33 0 
		
	
	
		Numbers (headcount)
		
			  2003 
			   Of which: 
			  All doctors HCHS doctors(14) General medical practitioners(15) 
		
		
			 England 108,993 76,400 32,593 
			 
			 Of which:
			 North-east 6,071 4,330 1,741 
			 
			 of which:
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 2,329 1,571 758 
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 3,742 2,759 983 
			 
			 Of which:
			 4NJ39 South Tyneside PC6 n/a n/a n/a 
			 5KG South Tyneside PCT 101 10 91 
			 RE9 South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust 220 220 0 
			 RW9 South Of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health NHS Trust(16) 49 49 0 
		
	
	n/a = Not available.
	1 Excludes Hospital Medical Hospital Practitioners and Hospital Medical Clinical Assistants, most of whom are GPs working part time in hospital.
	(14) All practitioners (excluding retainers) include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs, Restricted Principals, Assistants, GP Registrars Salaried Doctors (Para 52 SFA), PMS Other, Flexible Career Scheme GPs and GP Returners.
	(15) The South of Tyne and Wearside Mental Health NHS Trust is responsible for the delivery of mental health services to people living in Gateshead, South Tyneside, Sunderland, and North Easington.
	Note:
	Data as at 30 September every year except GP as at 1 October 1997–1999.
	Sources:
	Department of Health General and Personal Medical Services Statistic
	Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census

Health Spending

Brian Cotter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the spending per head of the population on health services was in (a) England and (b) the Weston-super-Mare constituency in each year since 1992.

Rosie Winterton: The information is not collected centrally in the format requested. The table shows expenditure per weighted head of population in England, and by the health authority and strategic health authority areas covering the Weston-Super-Mare constituency, for 1996–97 to 2003–04, which is the latest year for which figures are available. Information in this format is not available prior to 1996–97.
	
		Expenditure per weighted head of population
		
			 £ per head 
			  Avon Health Authority area Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority area England 
		
		
			 1996–97 638.36 n/a 625.56 
			 1997–98 606.25 n/a 607.85 
			 1998–99 672.26 n/a 659.76 
			 1999–2000 751.06 n/a 763.79 
			 2000–01 856.75 n/a 825.38 
			 2001–02 925.55 n/a 926.13 
			 2002–03 n/a 1,005.46 991.07 
			 2003–04 n/a 1,171.37 1,116.32 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Expenditure is taken from audited health authority accounts and summarisation forms and primary care trust summarisation schedules, which are prepared on a resource basis and therefore differ from cash allocations in the year. Figures are given in cash terms.
	2. Allocations per weighted head of population provide a much more reliable measure to identify differences between funding of health authorities and primary care trusts.
	3. Figures for 1996–97 to 2001–02 have been prepared using gross expenditure figures. Figures for 2002–03 and 2003–04 have been adjusted to eliminate expenditure, which would be double counted where an authority acts as a lead in commissioning healthcare or other services.
	Sources:
	Audited accounts of the health authorities 1996–97 to 1998–99.
	Audited summarisation forms of the health authorities 1999–2000 to 2001–02.
	Audited summarisation forms of the strategic health authorities 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	Audited summarisation schedules of primary care trusts 2000–01 to 2003–04.
	Weighted population figures.
	In many health authorities there are factors, which distort the expenditure. These include:
	the health authority acting in a lead capacity to commission healthcare or fund training on behalf of other health bodies; and
	asset revaluations in NHS trusts being funded through health authorities or primary care trusts.
	The majority of general dental services expenditure is separately accounted for by the dental practice board (DPB). An element of pharmaceutical services expenditure is accounted for by the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA). Total expenditure on these items by the DPB and the PPA cannot be allocated to individual health bodies, therefore the total expenditure in the answer does not capture all NHS expenditure within the area.
	The proportion of drugs expenditure accounted for by the DPB was larger in 1997–98 and 1998–99, which is why the total expenditure figures for those years appear low compared to 1996–97, 1999–2000, and 2000–01.
	For these reasons expenditure cannot be compared reliably between health authorities or between different years.

Hospital Waiting Times

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time in hospitals in (a) South Tyneside, (b) the North East and (c) the UK has been in each year since 1997.

John Hutton: The Department collects waiting times information by national health service trust.
	Table 1 shows South Tyneside NHS Trust inpatient median waiting time, all specialities: provider based 1996–97 to January 2005.
	
		Table 1
		
			  Year end month Median (weeks) 
		
		
			 1996–97 March 15.6 
			 1997–98 March 16.4 
			 1998–99 March 14.9 
			 1999–2000 March 12.4 
			 2000–01 March 10.5 
			 2001–02 March 9.5 
			 2002–03 March 8.7 
			 2003–04 March 8.3 
			 2004–05 January 6.2 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health KH07 (provider based).
	The Department collects waiting times information from strategic health authorities (SHAs).
	Table 2 shows Northumberland, Tyne and Wear SHA, inpatient median waiting time, all specialities: commissioner based 1996–97 to January 2005.
	
		Table 2
		
			  Year end month Median (weeks) 
		
		
			 1996–97 March 12.2 
			 1997–98 March 12.3 
			 1998–99 March 11.7 
			 1 999–2000 March 11.1 
			 2000–01 March 11.1 
			 2001–02 March 11.8 
			 2002–03 March 10.9 
			 2003–04 March 9.6 
			 2004–05 January 10.8 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health, QF01 (commissioner based).
	The Department does not collect waiting times data for the United Kingdom, but for England.
	Table 3 shows England, in-patient median waiting time, all specialities: commissioner based 1996–97 to January 2005.
	
		Table 3
		
			 Quarter ended Median waiting inpatient waiters time for (weeks) 
		
		
			 March 1997 13.2 
			 March 1998 14.2 
			 March 1999 12.8 
			 March 2000 12.9 
			 March 2001 12.6 
			 March 2002 12.7 
			 March 2003 11.9 
			 March 2004 10.2 
			 January 2005 9.3 
		
	
	Note:
	The introduction of time-bands from April 2004 has led to a more precise calculation of the median waiting time.
	Source:
	Department of Health, QF01 (commissioner based).

MRSA

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what (a) assessment he has made of the scope for the use of essential oils in dealing with MRSA and (b) funding he intends to provide for research into the use of such oils in combating MRSA.

Melanie Johnson: The scientific literature indicates that essential oils can help control healthcare associated infections, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The Department has allocated £3 million to research into healthcare associated infection and has recently issued a call for research proposals. If a proposal on essential oils is submitted, it will be carefully considered alongside others.

NHS Spending

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2005, Official Report, column 1911W, on NHS spending, what the expenditure on hospital and community services in England is at constant prices.

John Hutton: Information on the expenditure on hospital and community services in England, at 2003–04 prices, is shown in the table. Expenditure figures provided include the commissioning of secondary healthcare, which is the closest to the information requested. It is not possible to provide comparable figures prior to 1996–97.
	
		
			  Amount (£000) 
		
		
			 1996–97 25,835,590 
			 1997–98 26,444,802 
			 1998–99 27,551,795 
			 1999–2000 29,086,599 
			 2000–01 31,695,378 
			 2001–02 32,333,446 
			 2002–03 33,859,814 
			 2003–04 36,305,199 
		
	
	Sources:
	Health authority audited accounts 1996–97 and 1997–98.
	Health authority audited summarisation forms 1998–99 to 2001–02.
	Strategic health authority audited summarisation forms 2002–03 and 2003–04.
	Primary care trust audited summarisation schedules 2000–01 to 2003–04.
	Her Majesty's Treasury gross domestic product deflator.

Paddington Basin Health Campus

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health from what percentage of Harefield Hospital's catchment area for cardiothoracic NHS inpatients, inpatients will be drawn for the new hospital on the Paddington Basin Health campus; and when its facilities will be available for them.

John Hutton: The number of inpatient episodes currently undertaken at Harefield Hospital is projected to grow from 5,500 in 2003–04 to 6,000 by the time the Paddington Health Campus (PHC) opens. Of these patients, it is expected that 73 per cent. will use the PHC and the remaining 27 per cent., predominantly secondary cardiology patients, will use appropriately equipped local hospitals, possibly with cardiac departments operated as satellite Royal Brompton and Harefield services.
	The outline business case for the PHC estimates that the new facilities will be fully operational from June 2013.

Paddington Basin Health Campus

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has consulted HM Treasury on the increase in land acquisition costs over those published in the public consultation document on the Paddington Basin health campus project and for which budget provision had been made.

John Hutton: Her Majesty's Treasury has not yet been formally consulted. However, as recommended by the independent review team, it was represented on the steering group which oversaw the review. Once the Department has approved the outline business case (OBC), my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary of the Treasury, will receive the OBC for consideration and approval.

Paddington Basin Health Campus

John Wilkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the outcome has been of negotiations between Pearcroft Ltd. and his Department on the Paddington Basin Health campus.

John Hutton: The Department has not been in negotiations with Pearcroft Ltd. in relation to the proposed Paddington Health Campus (PHC) and has no plans to do so.
	Pearcroft has a shareholding in Paddington Development Corporate Ltd., (PDCL), a privately owned consortium, which, amongst other things, owns land in Paddington. PDCL is currently negotiating with Westminster city council and the Paddington health campus team for land required for the proposed PHC. Westminster city council has agreed to broker the land deal.

Pregnancy Advisory Service

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2004, Official Report, column 978W, to the hon. Member for Totnes, on the Pregnancy Advisory Service, whether funding has been allocated by the Government to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service since 1997.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 16 March 2005
	The Department has not directly funded the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) in any year since 1997. We do not collect data on the funding BPAS receives through its contracts with primary care trusts.

Primary Care Trusts

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what requirements there are for primary care trust funding panels to consult patients before reaching a decision on whether to fund treatments and drugs.

John Hutton: There is no formal requirement for primary care trust (PCT) funding panels to consult patients before reaching a decision on whether to fund treatment and drugs. However, in cases where there is no guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and a local decision needs to be taken, such consultation would be considered good practice.
	Where the National Institute of Clinical Excellence has recommended a treatment in a technology appraisal, PCTs normally have to make funding available for this treatment within three months of the appraisal's publication. NICE consults widely with a range of stakeholders, including patients and patients' organisations, before making a technology appraisal decision.
	In addition, all PCTs have patient and public involvement forums, which exist to monitor and review the services arranged and/or provided by the trust from the perspective of the patient. This includes both the range and operation of services.

Scans (Private Sector)

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons the decision was taken to site the Alliance Medicals mobile scanner at James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough rather than at University Hospital, North Durham; and who took the decision.

John Hutton: The James Cook Hospital was the closest available site which had immediate access to a power and water supply in the grounds of the hospital where mobile scanner units are normally sited. The decision to site the scanner at James Cook Hospital was taken by the local radiology manager, in conjunction with Alliance Medical.
	Alliance Medical is investigating the possibility of locating a mobile scanner unit in the North Durham area, ideally on a primary care site, which has a suitable power and water supply available in the grounds of the site.

Specialised Health Services

Roger Berry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to strengthen processes for (a) planning, (b) decision making and (c) performance management in the commissioning of specialised health services.

John Hutton: Primary care trusts are expected to collaboratively commission specialised services through their membership of the eight specialised commissioning groups and 26 local specialised commissioning groups covering England. Strategic health authorities actively support, monitor and performance manage the commissioning arrangements for specialised services in their areas.